Joanna G., Bachelor of Design (Honours)
Oxford Brookes University, England (Semester 2, 2018)
I had the opportunity of going on exchange to the small city of Oxford in England. I absolutely loved experiencing and living in Oxford as it is a beautiful city filled with stunning architecture, rich history and is home to the prestigious University of Oxford. I chose to study at a university in England because it has such a strong reputation for being at the forefront of developments in design, fashion and architecture both throughout history and the modern era, so this held a real attraction for me given my field of study.
Studying at Oxford Brookes University opened me up to many new experiences, lifelong friends, and was very academically rewarding. The interior course was quite different to the one at QUT. The class size was a lot smaller, only consisting of 14 students, and there was a lot of model making which took a while to get the hang of but taught me so much in the process that I can apply to my interior units back at QUT. One of the highlights of studying interior was the five day field trip to Barcelona, Spain half way through the semester. I got the opportunity to visit iconic architecture and top firms along with the rest of my second-year class and the third-year students, without missing out on any classes.
In terms of accommodation, I stayed at Clive Booth Hall which was only a short 7 minute walk from the main Headington campus! In my flat I lived with 5 other girls who were all lovely. The flats were very basic – I had my own room with a sink but shared a bathroom and kitchen.
The university offered many extra-curricular activities. On campus they had a sports centre which included a basketball court, gym, rock climbing wall and a sports bar where it was common for students to socialise while grabbing something to eat/drink after class. There are many sporting teams that you are able to try out for. I joined the rowing team which was a new and fun experience, I made many friends while keeping fit at the same time.
Oxford Brookes also offered weekend day trips to other English cities for international students. These trips were quite popular, having to get in quickly to reserve a seat on the bus. They were such an easy and cheap way to be shown around other popular English cities including Brighton, Isle of Wight, Cambridge, Bath, and Liverpool. Furthermore, it was extremely easy to catch a bus to London or to any of the airports in London to go away for weekend trips. I went to Oktoberfest and visited Dublin with a group of flatmates throughout the semester. These weekend trips were some of my favourite highlights.
Choosing to study in Oxford was one of the best experiences of my life. I was devastated with how quickly the time went and would have loved to stay longer. My advice to other students considering going on exchange is go for it! Travelling to another part of the world on your own may seem scary and intimidating at first, but the experiences, lifelong friends and opportunities are entirely worth it. Challenge and put yourself out there and you will have the best time of your life!
